You MUST have this on your bookshelf, no matter who you are

books:


	• The Empowered Patient: Hundreds of Life-Saving Facts, Action Steps and Strategies You Need to Know Julia Hallisy Bold Spirit Press, 2008 - 351 pages average customer review:based on 10 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Powerful Information

"The Empowered Patient" contains hundreds of life-saving facts, action steps, and strategies for patients and their families. The chapters in the book cover subjects such as: Your Healthcare Team; Infection Control and Prevention; how to protect yourself from medical errors; second opinions; how to communicate your complaints when reality does not meet expectations; obtaining your medical records; informed consent; your rights and responsibilities; and how to become a proactive patient.

Author Dr. Julia Hallisy's daughter Katie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of eye cancer when she was just five months old and Hallisy and her husband spent the next ten years in and out of the hospital with their daughter. "The Empowered Patient" is based on their experiences during Katie's illness and treatment which included radiation, chemotherapy, toxic shock syndrome, and an above the knee amputation. While (perhaps understandably) Hallisy has a habit of focussing on the worse case scenario, the book is very informative. All of the information in the book is easy to understand and you don't need to be a medical professional to read it. There is a lot of good information in the book including what role each member of your medical team (interns, residents, etc.) plays and a chart showing their hierarchy; how to practice infection control (both in and out of the hospital); when to seek a second opinion; who (inside and outside of the hospital) to complain to if there is a problem; how to obtain your medical records; and ways that you can control your medical treatment.

While "The Empowered Patient" is meant to be read by patients, I think it is something that should be read by both patients and their family members. The advice is very helpful, but sometime patients, because of medication or other medical issues, won't be able to remember and follow all the worthwhile tips.

"The Empowered Patient" is well worth reading.

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One of the most important books you will read...

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com 5/08
I offer my deepest sympathy to Dr. Hallisy and her husband in the loss of their daughter. The Empowered Patient could be one of the most important books you will read. In an effort to ensure that her daughter received the best and most appropriate care possible, Dr. Hallisy searched for information.
In The Empowered Patient, she shares that information with her readers. Among the topics she discusses are medical errors, contracting infection, and how to communicate your concerns and complaints. Chapter 4 discusses medical tests: too many, not enough, inadequately read, lost, etc. Hallisy's experience and expertise is vast. She stresses becoming a part of the health team, becoming proactive and taking responsibility for your care. Too often, we willingly place our lives in the hands of doctors without understanding the risks or long-term effects. Hallisy writes in a simple easy-to-understand manner. There are actions we can take to help prevent tragedy. This book could save your life of that of a loved one.

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TEN Star excellent book

Chapter 6 When Reality Does Not Meet Expectations, Chapter 8 Informed Consent: How to Avoid Signing Away Your Rights, and Chapter 9 Your Rights and Responsibilities make this book an excellent book to read. And I say this as someone whose husband died after a routine procedure, and as the mother of a son whose been on insulin since he was a baby.

So I knew a lot to begin with, and was pleased the author provided much appreciated additional information that I wasn't aware of, that I will share with others. Even physician friends who know of the book recommend it, and that's saying a lot.

Love how the author reminds the reader to become active in their medical care and ask short sweet questions and then shut up and listen to what the physician, nurse, lab tech person says, and not what you want them to say. Keep a small notebook with brief questions you want to ask, and write the answers down so you wont forget.

And ask for samples of meds being suggested to see if they will work, before getting a prescription, even if you have a small co-pay, don't get something you wont use. If you want a less invasive procedure ask.

If you are unhappy with treatment speak up and seek another care provider if needed. So much valuable wisdom in the book. And I so appreciate the author being so informative.

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For anyone who thinks they may end up in this position.

With the disarray of today's health care system, one must be ever vigilant, even when they are the one battling a crippling illness themselves, to fight for their health care rights. "The Empowered Patient: Hundreds of Life-Saving Facts, Action Steps, and Strategies you Need to Know" is a torch to shine light onto the deep, dark, and treacherous corners of health care, and ones right's when they are considered invalid and under care. Granting numerous tips such as how to avoid hospital acquired infections, making sure one's doctor is the best doctor he can be, frightening medical errors, and other simple things one can do to stay safe in a hospital - a phrase which in a perfect world should be redundant. "The Empowered Patient: Hundreds of Life-Saving Facts, Action Steps, and Strategies you Need to Know" is highly recommended to community library health shelves, and for anyone who thinks they may end up in this position.

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You MUST have this on your bookshelf, no matter who you are

If you or a family member or loved friend is facing hospitalization or any invasive medical procedure, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK to hand. I mean it. The book advertises "hundreds of live-saving facts, actions steps and strategies" but it is much more. It covers everything from who might actually do your surgery (not the doctor you discussed it with, if you sign a general consent form that says "and associates") to how to ask for handwashing and skin disinfectant when getting IV lines (which account for up to 48% of hospital infection incidents.) Even how to monitor how the floor is being washed (dirty water and mop from room to room?) to talking to the nurse manager in charge to how to obtain your records. Simple things such as prophylatic procedures (wiping skin with alcohol, washing hands AND double-gloves, care of ventilators to avoid VAP or ventilator-associated pneumonia) are covered in detail.

This book will open your eyes. I had a friend mention to me that NO ONE should be in the hospital without a friend or family member there 24/7 (and the hospital staff will make sleeping arrangements for the patient-advocate.) If you face the uncomfortable situation of being in the hospital yourself or attending a loved one who is there, you should be familiar ALREADY with this book and have it by your side. Review it frequently. If you don't know how important it is to advocate for your loved one, this will teach you how. I've actually only been in hospital once, myself, as a child, so despite working at a hospital as a teen, I had no idea of how to advocate for myself or for others. This is an eye-opener and a very educational reference book.

ABSOLUTELY a MUST. Read it. Know it. Review it.

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reviews: page 1, 2

In today's healthcare system, patients and their loved ones must share the responsibility for ensuring that they receive safe medical care. Every healthcare system demands critical review and vigilance at every step, especially as a patient. The Empowered Patient focuses on current healthcare safety issues including infection, medical error, second opinions, informed consent, and misdiagnoses. The book provides hundreds of easy-to-follow action steps to keep the public safe and protected. Readers will learn where the risks are, what to look for when assessing quality and safety, and what to ask for - and how to say it - with confidence and authority.

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